Anyone NOT calorie counting?

[Illbefinejustbloodyfine]

I'm on week 16. I've lost 2.5 st so far, with the same again yet to lose.

I started out calorie counting but stopped after a few weeks, most because I really hate doing it. I feel like I have a good enough idea to plod along without needing to calorie count. It's working for me so far. I'm just wondering though should I get into the habit to make it easier to maintain?

Interesting thread… I asked this at the beginning of my journey.

I’m 13.5 wks in and have lost two stone. I don’t count calories. However, this is not my first time at the diet rodeo! I could probably look at most plates of food and give a pretty accurate estimate of the calories contained! I find I get obsessed and miserable if I count calories so I’ve avoided it. I do keep a food diary though (just fill it in each evening no weighing or anything) and if I think I’ve overeaten I do a doing calories guesstimate. I don’t think my meals were really the problem. I was over weight because of binging on crisps in the evenings and eating through boredom in my office. The WLI is taking care of those urges so it’s very easy for me to be in a deficit eating good healthy food 3 times a day with a small chocolate treat some evenings.

I think maintenance will be harder. I may actually count calories for a bit in maintenance to try and work out exactly how much I can eat. I plan to stay on MJ for a while but I’m only 44 and ideally don’t want to be on it for life. I’ve always known how to lose weight - what I don’t know is how to maintain but I don’t think calorie counting is ever going to be in my future long term.

@Seahorsesplendour my homemade protein shake is a pretty slapdash affair to be honest! I use some frozen fruit (packet smoothie mix), a partial scoop of vanilla vegan protein powder, a tablespoon of fat free greek yoghurt, a teaspoon of almond butter, some ground flaxseed / chia seeds, some ice cubes and some almond milk. Then I just whizz it up in the blender. If it tastes good, I'll drink it, otherwise I'll modify it a little. I think it's good to try to get protein and nutrients from varied sources (not solely relying on de-natured protein powder).

I’m not just skipping breakfast, protein lunch and normal dinner but half usual portion! No snacks and no alcohol which was my downfall. Lost 6kgs in 2.5 weeks (!!)

I never have. I just eat really well.

@PeachSnail thanks!!

I’ve been adding vegan protein powder too but finding the taste overwhelming so was putting me off!

Putting less in is a light bulb moment so thanks!! 🤣😂🤣 not sure why I didn’t think of that myself!! obviously it says 2 tablespoons so that’s what my brain does!!!

also keep putting it off due to time so frozen fruit mix is also a useful tip!

thanks!!

Are you still on a maintenance dose or have you come off it altogether?

No calorie counting here, I’m too lazy for that. I am barely eating and only on 5mg. I have a coffee for breakfast. A very small lunch and a small dinner. Trying to make thoughtful choices that are healthier than previously but nothing extreme. I’ve cut right back on alcohol. I’ve lost 11kg in 5.5 months.

@Notmyrealname22, I am still on a maintenance dose. I haven't tried to come off it all together and am not sure I will, as I've found it really helped with inflammation. I suppose coming off it would be the real test of whether my new way of eating is only possible because of the drug. I don't know.

I haven’t been calorie counting mainly cos I can’t really be bothered but also cos I eat very similar things everyday and have a good idea of the amount of calories in them. I’m also not eating very much as I have very little appetite, have cut out UPFs, alcohol & carbs except fruit and veg so I know I’m not eating too many calories. I’ve been on it a month and have lost nearly a stone. However I know it’ll start slowing down in the next few months at which point I will probably start counting calories (and plan to start upping the amount I eat)

I'm still early days - wk4D7 (injecting tomorrow) but I don't count calories either.
I KNOW what I'm eating is healthy and I know I'm eating less of it.
I may calorie count if I ever get to goal and stop the jabs in order to maintain.
But I'm a long way from there rn.
12.5lb down, so on the path....

Nearly 6 stones lost since last August and have never calorie counted. I always ate healthy meals anyway, my portions were just too large and I snacked (nay, binged) between meals.

Very fortunately for me, from the day I took my first jab I have had no urge to snack at all. So, reduced portion sizes, occasional treats, and have never spent so little time thinking about food as I have in the last 10 months. Has been very free-ing.

Lovely to hear from those of you further down the path!! I keep panicking it’ll stop working at some point!!!

@AugustMounjaroTeam what dose are you on now?

I'm on 10 at the moment, but will start to work my way back down slowly now, I think. Have only ever gone up doses when I felt weight loss stalled a bit (probably illogical), as haven't really had food noise since Day 1. Time will tell whether I see it again as I go back down.

Funnily enough, am having a bit of a peckish day today, although that's probably because I didn't eat all that much for the last two days, I suspect. However, even on the odd occasion when I do think 'I could eat xxx thing outside meal times', Mounjaro gives me the ability to stop and think whether I really do want it. Most of the time, I don't bother.

One of the things I am trying to do, even though am not calorie counting at all, is to train myself never to eat without thinking about it - so, random example, even if I'm making a salad, I am trying to train myself out of eating cherry tomatoes while I'm doing it.

So, basically I can (and do) eat anything I want - I just take the time to work out whether I really do want it first. Hopefully that will stand me in good stead as I work back down ...

Yes I do, I'm week 22? I think...calorie count with Nutracheck lost 4 stone 11lbs...start weight 17 stone. Size 18---->12.

I think counting has really helped me lose a significant amount.

I should add I've cut nothing out I just make sure it fits in my limits for the day which is 1400 calories.

@Illbefinejustbloodyfine we are in March together but interesting topic ☺️

I don’t calorie count never have never will

for me it’s adjusting what I eat and how it affects my weight , carbs and salt affect me a lot more than calories

for majority on MJ it works 3-4 days with limited food intake , lunch is my main meal and have almost been the same since started Chicken or salmon with some greens homous (as a dip/sauce) sometimes cottage cheese, cheese or something else when I want to change it up

I barely have breakfast but have protein shake when suppression is as strongest as barely eat my lunch those days

dinner sometimes not sometimes some leftover overs

the other 2-3 days when I’m able to eat more I have 2 full portions (about 1/3 of what I had in the past though)

when finishing MJ this will continue be my plan basically fasting 2-3 days with limited calories and normal rest. This has worked in the past too. It’s when I snack and eat “normal” 7 days a week the scales has crept back

back to calorie counting, the reason why I don’t do it is because I try to listen to my body what it wants and needs, to learn the tools for the future. I had sugar cravings a few weeks ago and had chocolate in small portions every day for about 2 weeks, it removed the dizziness I was experiencing at the time clearly hint of low blood sugar. Now I’m not dizzy and I’m not craving sugar.

the more I loose the more I have to stay in tune , eat right and eat right amount to continue loosing and keep vitamins and minerals in check.

This, exactly.

I'm the same. Have never counted calories or added protein to my diet.

Just eat my usual diet but much smaller portions.
I've lost nearly 8 stone now, in 18 months.

I'm not counting. Still lost 33lb now since November which isn't fast but I'm very happy with it.

Wow amazing weight loss, was it all with MJ?

the reason why I’m asking is because I’m down 3 st but aiming for total of 6st (50% down 4 months in) and aim to stop MJ at max 12 months of usage (started March) which will include filtering down doses. even though I had very limited SE I’m worried about severe SE and long term effects .

The first six months were on my own.

I lost 2 stone in that time and it was getting so difficult to keep going, so I turned to MJ, not thinking it would work.

But it did. So I've been on MJ for a year now.

Amazing thank you for sharing . Good luck with your onwards journey beyond and after